Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-14
THE RETALIATION LAW.
The President Sends a Sound Letter to
the American Fisheries Union.
TIE FISHERIES DISPUTE.

les Union to the President. His Answer.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE president
having received a communication from the
American Fisheries union, of Massa-
chusetts, calling attention to the fisher
les dispute and suggesting that the retail
iatory act passed by the late congress
would, in their opinion, be sufficiently
executed if the proposed retaliation was
confined to the closing of the U. S. mar
kets to the Canadian fish products, he
has made the following answer:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON, April z.
George Steele, Esq, Pres't of American
Fishery Union, and others, Glouces-
ter, Mass.
GENTLEMEN-I have received your let
ter lately addressed to me, and have given
full consideration to the expression of
the views and wishes therein contained
in relation to the existing differences be-
tween the government of Great
Britain and the United States,
growing out of the refusal
toward our citizens engaged in
the fishing enterprise, of privileges to
which they are entitled under treaties
stlpulations or the guarantees of interna-
tional amity and neighberly concession.
l sincerely trust the apprehension you ex:
press of uni ust and unfriendly treatment
of American fishermen lawfully found in
Canadian waters will not be realized; but
if such apprehension should prove to be
well founded, l earnestly hope that no
fault or incOnsiderate action of any of
our citizens will in the least weaken the
JUST POSITION OF QUE GOVERNMENT
Of
and support to which we should be en-
titled The action of this adrainistra-
ton since June, 1885, when the fishery
articles of the treaty of 1871 were ter
minated under the notification which had
two years before been given to our gov
eminent, has been fully declared by cor
respondence between representatives of
the appropriate departments of the re-
spective governments, with which I am
apprised by your letter, you are
entirely familiar. An examination of
this correspondence has doubtless
satisfied you that in no case
have the rights or privileges of
American fishermen been overlooked or
neglected but that on the contrary they
have been sedulously insisted upon and
cared for by every means within the con-
troll of the executive branch Of the gov
eminent. Theact of congress approved
March 3, 1887, authorizing the
course of retaliation through
executive action in the event
of continuance on the part of the British
American authorities OF unfriendly con
duct and treaty violations affecting
American fishermen had devovled upon
the president of the United States exceed
ingly
GRAVE AND SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITIES.
rahending highly important cons:-
quences TO our national character and
dignity, and involving extremely valu-
able commercial intercourse between the
British possessions of North America and
the people Of the United States, 1 under
stand the main purpose of yoar letter is
to suggest that in case recourse to the
retaliatory measures authorized by this
act should be invoked by uniast treat
ment in the future, the object Of such re-
taliation might be fully accomplished by
prohibiting Canadian fish from entering
into ports OF the U. S. The existing
controversy is one in which two nations
are the parties concerned. The, Fetalia-
ton contemplated by the act Of eongress
Is to be enforced not to protect solely
and particular interests however EaeritOr-
ious or valuable, but to
MAINTAIN NATIONAL HONoR
and thus protect all our people. IN this
view the violation of the American fish
cry rights and the unjust or
unfriendly acts towards the por-
ton of oar citizens engaged
in this business is but the occasion for
action, and constitutes a nation afront
which gives bzFth to or may Justify re-
taliation. This measure once res0rted to,
its effectiveness and value may we'll de-
pend upon the thoroughness and extent
OF its application, and in the perform
ance of international duties and the en-
forcement Of international rights and
the protection of our citizens. this gov
eminent, and she people of the United
States,
MUET ACT AS UNIT,
all intent upon attaining the best result
of retaliation upon the basis of a MAIN
tenance of national honor and duty.
nation seeking to maintain its honor,
dignity and integrity is engaged IN pro-
tecting the.Dsghts of its people, and if IL
such efforts particular interest is injur-
ed and special advantages forfeited, these
things shoudd bs patriotically borne for
the public good. An immense volume of
population, manufactures, and agricul-
tural productions, and the marine
tonnage and the railways to which
these. have given activity to all, is largely
tie result of the intercourse between the
United States and British America, and
the natural growth of a fall half century
of good neighborhood and friendly COM
munlcatfon, form an aggregate of mate
rial wealth and Incidental relations Of
the most impressive magnitude. e.
fully appreciate these things and
are not unmindful OF the great number
of our people who are concerned in sach
vast and diversified interests. In the per-
formance of the serious duty which con-
gress has imposed upon me and In the
exercise upon the just occasion the
power conferred under the act referred
to shall deem myself bound to infict
no
UNNECESSARY DAMAGE Oh INJURY
upon any portion Of our people but
shall, nevertheless, be unfiinchingly guild
ed by assense of what the self respect and
dignity of the nation demand. In main
tenance Of these and in support of